In Australia’s eastern shore, male whales are giving up singing to lure a partner in favour of battling other male whales for dominance.
An analysis of nearly two decades’ worth of data on humpback whale behaviour, headed by Associate Professor Rebecca Dunlop from The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Biological Sciences, revealed that singing may no longer be in style when it comes to seduction. “In 1997, a singing male whale was almost twice as likely to be seen trying to breed with a female compared to a non-singing male,” Dr Dunlop said. “But by 2015 it had flipped, with non-singing males almost five times more likely to be recorded trying to breed than singing males.
“It’s quite a big change in behaviour so humans aren’t the only ones subject to big social changes when it comes to mating rituals.”
The researchers believe the change has happened progressively as populations recovered after the widespread cessation of whaling in the 1960s. “If competition is fierce, the last thing the male wants to do is advertise that there is a female in the area because it might attract other males who could out-compete the singer for the female,” Dr Dunlop said.
“By switching to non-singing behaviour, males may be less likely to attract competition and more likely to keep the female. “If other males do find them, then they either compete or leave..